BDMs

William Runciman was born on 6 Aug 1802 Shoe Lane (30), St Bride's Fleet St, LND, ENG.2,3 He was baptized on 5 Sep 1802 St Bride's Fleet St, LND, ENG.2 Some sources show William as born circa 1806 ENG.4 William Runciman married Mary Brown, daughter of Andrew Brown and Anne Brown, say 1833 ?Lauder, BEW, SCT.3 William Runciman died on 9 Jan 1875 Waterloo, Jackson Co., MI, USA, at age 72; Obit: Died at his residence in Waterloo, aged 72, a native of Scotland (Europe) and emigrated to this country some twenty four years ago. During his illness his sufferings were intense, but he bore his sufferings with Christian fortitude. He was aware death was his only relief, and a few hours before his final dissolution he bid his weeping wife and children an affectionate farewell. Dear is the spot where Christians sleep And sweet the strains their spirits pour Oh, why should we in anguish weep They are not lost but gone before.3,5

As of Feb 2012, the missing piece of the Michigan jigsaw, has finally been found.6

Although the thrice married William is not found with an age to fully verify he is the William born 1756 to John and Elizabeth (Familton) Runciman, we do have a 1757 baptism for his first wife Elizabeth Campbell Millington, and the assumption is that he is of an age, which fits very nicely.7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,6 With the discovery (Feb 2012) of William Runciman, baker in London with sons James and William of the right ages to be the Michigan James and William, the "cousin" theory is hereby put on hold, and the "brothers" one brought back into favour, along with bringing the Lauder baker family into Lineage 1a.This London connection certainly fits the family stories about the William who went to London, with children brought up in Wanton Walls with their cousins.16,14,6

The family charts and stories are from at least one family chart (1965) which believes William and James to be siblings, but later information (from Jean Runciman BOGAN) stated "My grandmother always said "the other side of the family (William) will always tell you that James and William RUNCIMAN from Scotland were brothers ... they were not ... they were cousins who had grown up together and called themselves brothers". (Well they were brought up with their cousins, so perhaps that's where that bit came from?)

George's (Dod) uncle James (b. 1898 d. 1984) said he remembered his grandfather (James married to Eliza WIGHT, b. 1800 d. 1871) telling of a brother who went to London and died leaving 2 small children whom he brought to Wanton Walls and brought up with his own family and he believes they were the ones who went to America. (the grandfather must have meant his father's brother, not his own, but he was well placed to talk about them as he was of an age, and would have been brought up with them at Wanton Walls)"However Mr James Runciman's sister says she remembers conversations about those two boys and their names were James and Richard, not James and William. therefore I believe my grandmother was right, James and William were cousins who had grown up together as brothers .. but what ever happened to Richard?.. Jean"Feb 2012 update: the Richard being remembered is probably the son of James and William's brother John, a baker in Lauder.I'm backing the brothers version of events now that London baptisms for siblings James & William, sons of William and Mary Ann (Hill) Runciman, whose son John is documented as the baker in Lauder have now been found. William Snr died in 1803 when James would be 5, John 3 and William 1 (there were also two older half sisters, Catherine and Elizabeth, as yet unaccounted for beyond father William's will).

With sons William and James previously assumed to be cousins, their mutual grandfather would have to be born around 1740-50s, give or take 20 yrs or so! Apart from the DNA evidence making a descendant of William in Michigan, and a descendant of the Wanton Walls families closely related (66/67 marker match), we had no other real idea where they fitted, so they were temporarily connected as great grandchildren of John & Elizabeth via a theoretical "male Runciman". This connection has now been removed, along with the theoretical intervening generation.16,14

Census

William Runciman and Mary Runciman appeared on the census of 1841 Trabrown, Par. of Lauder, BEW, SCT, and are assumed to be husband and wife. They were enumerated as RUNCIMAN: William 35 farmer b ENG; (wife) Mary 25 b BEW; (Children): Maryanne 5, Janet 4, William 1 all b BEW; Also Elizabeth STEWART 40 F.S. b BEW; Mary Anne POLWARTT 64 independent b ENG.4 William Runciman was not found in the census of 1850 in the USA.17 He appeared on the census of 1860 Waterloo, Jackson Co., MI, USA, as neighbour of Mary Allen.18 William Runciman appeared on the census of 17 Aug 1860 Waterloo, Jackson Co., MI, with Mary Runciman, enumerated as RANSMAN: William 58 farmer $2500 real estate, $1200 personal property b ENG; Mary 46 b SCT; William 20 farm laborer b SCT; Andrew 15, Betsy 12 both at school in last yr, b MI; Genett 5 b MI (next door, a family of ALLENs.)19 William Runciman appeared on the census of 29 Jun 1870 Waterloo, Jackson Co., MI, with Mary Runciman, enumerated as RUNCIMAN: William 67 farmer $8000 real estate $1000 personal property b ENG; Mary 56 keeping house b SCT; Andrew 25 farm laborer, Elizabeth 22 at home, both b SCT; Janet 15 at school b MI, all parents of foreign birth.3

DNA Info

William belongs to a tested line in the RUNCIMAN Surname DNA Project. Follow this link for further DNA information.

Summary

William and Mary's daughter Janet Lockie Runciman did give pause to the placing of this William in his correct family as there is also a married to Mary Watson, son of the David married to Janet Lockie. Other evidence does place David's son as the one married to Mary Watson, and this one as David's nephew instead.20,6

Links

Click here to see William's page on WikiTree, a (free) collaborative on-line tree.21 Follow this link for Lorna's family information on William Runciman.

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